Scientist and GOP veteran vie for state Senate term

Democrat Dan Wartenberg, a college professor who serves on the
Board of Health in his hometown of Montgomery Township, is
challenging GOP incumbent Walter Kavanaugh of Somerville, who has
spent the past 26 years in the state Legislature.

At stake is a two-year Senate term representing the heavily
Republican 16th District, which consists of 16 of Somerset County's
21 municipalities, including the five Somerset Hills towns, plus
Mendham Borough in Morris County.

Although the odds are against him, Wartenberg believes he's the
right candidate for the times.

"I think I'd bring a new energy and enthusiasm, and a level of
technical expertise," said Wartenberg, 49, a professor of
environmental and community medicine at the University of Medicine
and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ). "I think we really need people
who are good problem solvers and have an analytical way of th
inking right now."

For example, said Wartenberg, the current anthrax scare sweeping
the nation is the type of issue he would deal with at the college,
at the Board of Health, and also in his capacity as a volunteer
firefighter and member of the Somerset Count y Hazardous Materials
(HazMat) team.

Kavanaugh, however, believes that his most important function as
a state senator is providing services to constituents who are
experiencing difficulties dealing with various governmental
agencies.

"When you can help people who really don't know the path to
take, it's rewarding," said Kavanaugh, 58, who was elected to a
Senate seat four years ago after serving as a 16th district
assemblyman for 22 years. "I'm proud when people see me on the
street and thank me."

Dan Wartenberg

Wartenberg said he decided to run for a state Senate seat after
becoming frustrated with what he describes as poorly informed
actions of state environmental committees on which he has
served.

"I just felt like it was time to stop complaining and do
something," said Wartenberg. "I feel that if I get into the Senate,
I will be able to bring my expertise to bear on these
issues."

Wartenberg said he is also interested in seeking solutions to
the problems of overdevelopment and traffic.

"I haven't seen many innovative and creative approaches to
dealing with it," said Wartenberg. "If you widen the roads, you'll
just get more cars on them.

Wartenberg believes the Legislature needs to pay more attention
to public transportation, perhaps investigating the feasibility of
developing a light rail system along major highway
corridors.

"We have to get people out of their cars, and we have to do it
by giving them transportation they want to take," he
said.

The Democratic challenger is also concerned with rising property
taxes and the possibility of a deficit in next year's state
budget.

"How did they do that in a time of such great affluence?"
Wartenberg asked, referring to the GOP-controlled
Legislature.

Likewise, Wartenberg faulted the current administration for
failing to adequately deal with the problem of increasing auto
insurance rates and insurers leaving the state. "The Republicans
have said a lot of things, but where's the results? " he
asked.

Walter Kavanaugh

Kavanaugh, who owns a fuel oil distributorship, said he, too, is
concerned with the issues of sprawl, traffic and auto insurance
rates.

He said he is a staunch supporter of open space preservation
efforts, and believes New Jersey needs to re-examine its affordable
housing laws to find out if they're contributing to
overdevelopment.

"I think we really need to look at the Mount Laurel situation to
see if it's helpful or if it's a hindrance," Kavanaugh said. "I
think it limits a community from trying to protect itself against
growth."

Kavanaugh said he would like to see more resources put into
trying to rehabilitate New Jersey's cities as desirable places to
live.

On the auto insurance issue, Kavanaugh believes the entire
system needs to be reformed.

"It makes more sense to insure the driver, not the car," said
Kavanaugh, explaining that auto policies should be run more like
life insurance policies, with individuals choosing their
appropriate level of coverage.

During his last term, Kavanaugh said, he sponsored legislation
to improve access to public meetings and records, reform divorce
laws, protect adoptive parents and their children and most recently
help the families of victims of the World Trade Center terrorist
attack.

Kavanaugh also has a new pet issue: better access to public
buildings for the disabled.

The senator spent four months in a hospital and another seven in
a rehabilitation facility after experiencing complications from
surgery for an aorta aneurism.

"After being in a wheelchair," he said, "I've become a very
strong advocate f or the disabled."

(Editor's Note: Wartenberg did not provide a photo of himself
for this story as requested.)

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In recent weeks, Long Hill Township and Watchung Borough passed ordinances allowing their police departments to be able to apply for surplus equipment from the Department of Defense. Long Hill recently procured a Humvee to use in times of flooding, which Watchung states as the reason they are getting into the program. However, in cities around the country, police forces have used the program to obtain military gear, such as weapons and armor.
For more background, go to the link below
http://www.newjerseyhills.com/echoes-sentinel/news/watchung-police-department-hopes-to-receive-equipment-from-department-of/article_12ad002a-92b3-5449-a2cc-4b2cf0ce4339.html